U-S Attorney Kevin Vanderschel said Monday, that on Friday of last week, 27-year old Francisco Javier Ledesma Santa Cruz, from Council Bluffs, was sentenced by a United States District Court Judge to 42 months in prison for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine. Ledesma Santa Cruz will serve one year of supervised release following his imprisonment.

On February 24, 2017, Ledesma Santa Cruz pleaded guilty and admitted he aided and abetted the possession of over one kilogram of methamphetamine with the intent to distribute in Council Bluffs during August of 2016. Co-defendant Ramon Cisneros Aguilera was sentenced to 135 months imprisonment in April of 2017. The charge was the result of a drug trafficking investigation conducted by law enforcement in both Sioux City and Council Bluffs.

The Southwest Iowa Narcotics Enforcement Task Force, Sioux City Police Department, Council Bluffs Police Department, Omaha Police Department in Nebraska, Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office, and United States Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Audubon County Sheriff’s Office reports the arrest at around 12:30-a.m. Friday, of 31-year old Shawn Leroy Schmidt. The Kimballton man was taken into custody for OWI/2nd offense, following a traffic stop on Littlefield Drive, near Heron Avenue.

In addition to the OWI charge, Schmidt was cited for No Insurance, and Failure to Yield ½ Roadway. He was transported to the Audubon County Jail and later posted bond.  A preliminary hearing in his case was set for August 7th.

(DES MOINES) – Gov. Kim Reynolds announced a new cyber training partnership between the SANS (SysAdmin, Audit, Network and Security) Institute and the State of Iowa on Monday (today). High school juniors, seniors, community college and college students are encouraged to participate in CyberStart, an online game of discovery, and compete against students in six other states for $650,000 in scholarships.

CyberStart was developed to teach students basic cyber security skills and identify the next generation of the cyber workforce. Registration is open now through Friday, August 4, 2017. Students who register will receive a mini version CyberStart and have the opportunity to solve eight challenges. Students who complete at least four challenges will be invited to participate in the full version of CyberStart, with hundreds of challenges and a chance to win scholarships sponsored by the SANS Institute.

Students do not need prior cyber security knowledge to participate. To register, visit https://us.joincyberstart.com/reg-account.

COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA -Three people were sentenced to anywhere from two- to a little more than four years in prison last Friday in U-S District Court in Council Bluffs, for their role in the distribution of muscle building drugs. 31-year old Jeffrey B. Lackas, of Bettendorf, 39-year old Stanley Szeto, of Iowa City, and 30-year old Daniel Cruz-Bonilla, of Fontana, CA., were sentenced for conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids.

Lackas, Szeto, and Cruz-Bonilla were members of a drug trafficking organization responsible for the distribution of anabolic steroids and human-growth hormones throughout the country. Between July of 2011, and March of 2015, the organization operated under the internet name of “Brinkkmann Pharma,” and the defendants distributed anabolic steroids and human- growth hormones obtained from a source in China.

Lackas was sentenced to 46 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Szeto was sentenced to 25 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release and imposed a $6,000 fine. Cruz-Bonilla was sentenced to 41 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Each defendant was ordered to pay $100 to the Crime Victims’ Fund.

The Omaha Police Department in Nebraska, Douglas County Nebraska Sheriff’s Office, Iowa Division of Narcotic Enforcement, Nebraska State Patrol, Iowa City Police Department, United States Border Patrol, United States Postal Inspection Service, and Drug Enforcement Administration conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.

The Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office says three people were arrested over the weekend on drug and other charges. Saturday evening, Deputy Landon White arrested Joshua Kenichi Burgess for Possession of a Controlled Substance/Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Burgess was also cited for speeding following a traffic stop on Highway 25, south of Clearfield. During the investigation, K9 “Heky” was deployed, and alerted to the presence of narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in the recovery of 1.8-grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

Yesterday (Sunday), Brandon Scott Baran, and Chenell Renee Martinez were arrested at around 1:45-p.m., following an investigation into a reported suspicious vehicle at the park in Benton (IA). Upon arriving and making contact with one of the individuals, Deputy White learned they were listed as a missing person from Colorado. The vehicle was also listed as possibly stolen from Colorado.

While the information was being confirmed, the K9 Heky was deployed and alerted to narcotics in the vehicle. Once the information concerning the missing person and stolen vehicle was confirmed, Baran and Martinez were placed under arrest.

The investigation led to finding several items identified as stolen property, including: credit cards; Driver’s license ID cards; a laptop computer; and many more items. Authorities say the string of thefts appears to have spanned at least three states, including Colorado, Nebraska and Iowa. Baran and Martinez faces charges that include: Possession of Meth with the intent to deliver (5 grams); Possession of stolen property (motor vehicle); Possession of stolen property worth more than $1,000 but less than $5,000; Possession of Marijuana; Possession of Burglary tools; Possession of prescription drugs not prescribed for the suspects, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Drugs, including marijuana and methamphetamine were seized, along with dozens of marijuana and meth pipes. The investigation continues, as the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office makes contact with other agencies and confirms seized property as stolen from other jurisdictions.

In an update to our weekend report, the Iowa State Patrol says two people were injured during an accident early Saturday morning, in Shelby County. The accident happened on Highway 59, south of Earling, at around 1:40-a.m., when a 2004 Cadillac driven by 34-year-old Manuel Jimez Perez, of Des Moines, crossed the center line as the vehicle was traveling southbound. 21-year-old Bradley Flogstad, of Holstein, who was driving a 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt northbound, tried to avoid colliding with the Cadillac, but his car was struck on the driver’s side door.  The Cadillac continued south into the east ditch where it rolled onto its top. Flogstad’s vehicle came to rest on its wheels, in the east ditch.

Officials say Perez was trapped inside the car and had to be extracted by mechanical means. He was transported to Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan and then life-flighted to UNMC in Omaha. A report on his condition was not released. Flogstad was transported to Myrtue Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

A Council Bluffs man, 35-year old Hubert Theodore Carter, III, was sentenced Friday to 27 months in prison for bank robbery. Carter was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release following his imprisonment.

On January 27th, 2017, Carter entered the U.P. Connection Federal Credit Union and handed a teller a handwritten note stating he had a firearm, and instructed the teller to fill a bag with money. Carter left the credit union with approximately $3,500 and was quickly apprehended with the stolen money by the Council Bluffs Police Department.

The Council Bluffs Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation conducted the investigation. The case was prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Iowa.